Recombinant filaggrin polypeptides for cell importation

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are recombinant polypeptides that include (a) a filaggrin amino acid sequence and (b) a cell importation signal sequence that includes a motif of two to fifteen amino acids, wherein the motif includes at least one arginine residue and at least one methionine residue. Also disclosed are nucleic acids encoding the recombinant polypeptides of the present invention, and compositions that include the recombinant polypeptides and nucleic acids of the present invention. Methods of treating or preventing a skin disease or skin disorder using the compositions of the present invention are also included, as well as kits that include a sealed containing that includes a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention.

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/242,487, filed Jan. 8, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/511,267, filed Oct. 5, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,336,797, which is a national phase application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/US2010/057592, filed Nov. 22, 2010, which claims benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/263,604, filed Nov. 23, 2009, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the fields of protein chemistry, intracellular protein transport, skin care, and the treatment and prevention of skin disease. More particularly, it concerns methods, compositions, and kits employing recombinant filaggrin polypeptides that include an attached cell importation signal sequence, or nucleic acids encoding a filaggrin polypeptide with an attached cell importation signal sequence.

2. Description of Related Art

Skin diseases are a common cause of morbidity in the U.S. For example, ichthyosis vulgaris and atopic dermatitis have a combined incidence of 1 in 250. They are the most common disorders of keratinization. These diseases are characterized by hyperlinearity, keratosis pilaris and itchy, scaly, often inflamed skin. Ichthyosis vulgaris and atopic dermatitis are also associated with one of the most common single-gene disorders in humans, a disorder of the filaggren (FLG) gene.

FLG is a 3-exon gene located in the Epidermal Differentiation Complex (EDC) on chromosome 1q21. In healthy patients, the FLG gene codes for the (pro) filaggrin protein, a protein essential for proper keratinization and squamification of epithelial cells, formation of epidermal barrier, and hydration. In almost fifty percent of patients with these diseases, however, one of two nonsense mutations have been present in exon 3 (R501X and 2282de14) (Hoffjan, 2007). These mutations disable the profilaggrin polyprotein from being proteolytically cleaved to the functioning FLG protein. FLG protein is expressed in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells; it is absent from the nucleus in vivo. A correlation between the number of filaggrin repeats and the predisposition to dry skin has also been shown (see U.S. Patent App. Publ. No. 2003/0124553). Administration of a polypeptide comprising a profilaggrin has been proposed as a treatment for dry skin (U.S. Patent Appl. Pub. No. 2003/0124553).

Despite the information available concerning FLG and its role in skin disease, there is a need for more effective methods of treating diseases or disorders of the skin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in part based on the finding that the uptake of a filaggrin polypeptide into a cell can be surprisingly and effectively enhanced by attaching a cell importation signal sequence to the filaggrin polypeptide. The cell importation sequence, for example, may be a sequence comprising a motif of two to fifteen amino acids, wherein the motif includes at least one arginine residue and at least one methionine residue. Compositions that include the polypeptides of the present invention have improved therapeutic efficacy compared to polypeptides that do not include the cell importation signal sequence.

Some embodiments of the present invention include a recombinant polypeptide that includes (a) a filaggrin amino acid sequence; and (b) a cell importation signal sequence including a motif of two to fifteen amino acids, wherein the motif includes at least one arginine residue and at least one methionine residue. The filaggrin amino acid sequence may include any number of amino acids of a native filaggrin protein. In some embodiments, for example, the filaggrin amino acid sequence includes 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 120, 130, 150, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290, 300, 310, 320, 330, 340 or more consecutive amino acids of any of the amino acid sequences set forth in Table 2 below, or any range of amino acids derivable therein, so long as the filaggrin amino acid sequence when conjugated to a cell importation signal sequence retains at least some of the function of a native filaggrin amino acid sequence conjugated to the same cell importation sequence. Non-limiting functions of a native filaggrin amino acid sequence include reduction in peeling of skin, reduction of skin redness, reduction of itching of skin, reduction of crusting of skin, reduction in dryness of skin, reduction in scaling of skin, reduction of skin inflammation, reducing of skin cracking, reduction of blistering of skin, reduction of scarring of skin, reduction of oozing of skin, and reduction of bleeding of skin.

In some embodiments, the filaggrin amino acid sequence includes any of the amino acid sequences set forth in Table 2. In particular embodiments, the filaggrin amino acid sequence includes SEQ ID NO:1.

In some embodiments, the filaggrin amino acid sequence has at least about 80%, 81%, 82%, 83, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with a native filaggrin amino acid sequence, or any range of percent sequence identify derivable therein. Examples of filaggrin sequences are set forth in Table 2 below. In particular embodiments, the filaggrin amino acid sequence has at least about 80%, 81%, 82%, 83, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:1. “Sequence identity” is defined as the percentage of amino acid residues in a candidate sequence that are identical with the amino acid residues at corresponding positions in a native polypeptide sequence, after aligning the sequences and introducing gaps if necessary, to achieve the maximum percent sequence identity, and not considering any conservative substitutions as part of the sequence identity. The % sequence identity values may be generated by the NCBI BLAST2.0 software as defined by Altschul et al. (1997). The parameters are set to default values, with the exception of Penalty for mismatch, which is set to −1.

Regarding the cell importation sequence, in some embodiments, the amino acid sequence includes an arginine residue covalently attached to a methionine residue. In some embodiments, the arginine residue and the methionine residue are separated by 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 intervening amino acid residues. In a particular embodiment, the cell importation sequence comprises SEQ ID NO:23.

In some embodiments, the polypeptide includes a linker between the filaggrin amino acid sequence and the cell importation amino acid sequence. The linker may be any linker known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Some non-limiting examples of linkers are discussed in the specification below.

In some embodiments, the polypeptide includes SEQ ID NO:21 or SEQ ID NO:22. In a specific embodiment, the polypeptide is SEQ ID NO:21.

The polypeptide may be further defined as a fusion protein of the filaggrin amino acid sequence and the cell importation amino acid sequence. The filaggrin amino acid sequence may be attached to the N-terminus of the cell importation signal sequence, or it may be attached to the C-terminus of the cell importation signal sequence.

Other embodiments of the present invention include a nucleic acid that includes a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a chimeric polypeptide as set forth above. Further embodiments include a nucleic acid that encodes a filaggrin amino acid sequence. The filaggrin amino acid sequence is any filaggrin amino acid sequence as set forth herein. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is comprised in a viral vector. Non-limiting examples of viral vectors include lentiviral vectors, adeno-associated viral vectors, and adenoviral vectors.

Other embodiments of the present invention concern a skin-care composition that includes an effective amount of a polypeptide that includes a filaggrin amino acid sequence and a cell importation signal sequence, or a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide of the present invention as set forth above. The polypeptide may be any of the aforementioned polypeptide chimeras. The nucleic acid may be any of the aforementioned nucleic acids.

In some embodiments, the composition further includes a lipid component. The lipid component may have a net neutral charge. It may be include only neutral lipids, or it may optionally include cationic and anionic lipids such that the net charge of the lipids in the lipid component is neutral.

The lipid component may include a neutral lipid. For example, the neutral lipid may be a neutral phospholipid. Non-limiting examples of neutral phospholipids include phosphatidylcholine or phosphatidylethanolamine. Other examples of neutral phospholipids include 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DOPC), egg phosphatidylcholine (“EPC”), dilauryloylphosphatidylcholine (“DLPC”), dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (“DMPC”), dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (“DPPC”), distearoylphosphatidylcholine (“DSPC”), 1-myristoyl-2-palmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (“MPPC”), 1-palmitoyl-2-myristoyl phosphatidylcholine (“PMPC”), 1-palmitoyl-2-stearoyl phosphatidylcholine (“PSPC”), 1-stearoyl-2-palmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (“SPPC”), dimyristyl phosphatidylcholine (“DMPC”), 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (“DAPC”), 1,2-diarachidoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (“DBPC”), 1,2-dieicosenoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (“DEPC”), palmitoyloeoyl phosphatidylcholine (“POPC”), lysophosphatidylcholine, dilinoleoylphosphatidylcholine distearoylphophatidylethanolamine (“DSPE”), dimyristoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (“DMPE”), dipalmitoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (“DPPE”), palmitoyloeoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (“POPE”), and lysophosphatidylethanolamine

The lipid component may include a negatively charged lipid. For example, the negatively charged lipid may be a negatively charged phospholipid. Non-limiting examples of negatively charged phospholipids include phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylglycerol. Other examples include dimyristoyl phosphatidylserine (“DMPS”), dipalmitoyl phosphatidylserine (“DPPS”), brain phosphatidylserine (“BPS”), dilauryloylphosphatidylglycerol (“DLPG”), dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol (“DMPG”), dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (“DPPG”), distearoylphosphatidylglycerol (“DSPG”), and dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol (“DOPG”).

The lipid component may optionally include cholesterol of polyethyleneglycol (PEG).

Other possible lipid components include cationic lipids. Non-limiting examples of cationic lipids include 1,2-dioleyl-3-trymethylammoniumpropane (DOTAP), 1,2-dioleoyl-3-dimethylammonium-propane (DODAP), dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DDAB), N-[1-(2,3-dioleyloxy)propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTMA), and DC-cholesterol.

The lipid component may include a single type of lipid, or it may include two or more distinct types of lipids. In some embodiments, the composition includes liposomes. Liposomes are discussed in detail elsewhere in this specification.

In some embodiments, the composition is a solution, an emulsion, a cream, a lotion, a gel, or an ointment. The emulsion may be an oil-in-water emulsion or a water-in-oil emulsion.

The composition may include any amount of chimeric polypeptide or nucleic acid encoding a chimeric polypeptide as set forth herein. For example, in some embodiments, the composition includes from about 0.001% to about 5.0% by weight of polypeptide.

The present invention also generally concerns methods of delivering a filaggrin polypeptide into a cell, comprising contacting a cell with any of the aforementioned chimeric polypeptides, wherein the filaggrin polypeptide is delivered into the cell. The cell may be any type of cell. In particular embodiments, the cell is a skin cell. For example, the skin cell may be a basal cell, a squamous cell, a melanocyte, or a keratinocyte.

The invention also in part concerns methods of treating or preventing a skin disease or skin disorder in a subject, involving administering to a subject an effective amount of a composition that includes (a) a recombinant chimeric polypeptide as set forth above or (b) a nucleic acid encoding any of the aforementioned chimeric polypeptides. The subject may be any subject, but in particular embodiments the subject is a mammal. Non-limiting examples of mammals include mice, rats, rabbits, cats, dogs, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, cows, primates, and humans. In particular embodiments, the subject is a human. For example, the human may have or be at risk of developing a skin disease or disorder. In some embodiments, the human is a patient with a skin disease. Non-limiting examples of skin diseases are set forth elsewhere in this specification. In particular embodiments, the skin disease is ichthyosis vulgaris or atopic dermatitis.

The composition may be administered to the subject using any method known to those of ordinary skill in the art. In particular embodiments, administering involves topically applying the composition to a skin surface of the subject. The skin surface may be a mucosal surface, or it may be a skin surface that does not include mucosa. The mucosa may include oral mucosa, vaginal mucosa, cervical mucosa, or anal mucosa.

The compositions set forth herein may optionally include one or more additional agents that can be applied in the treatment or prevention of a skin disease or disorder in a subject. Non-limiting examples of additional agents include a moisturizer, an exfoliating agent, an anti-inflammatory agent, or an antimicrobial agent. Others are detailed elsewhere in this specification. In some embodiments, the composition includes a lipid component, including any of the lipid components as set forth above. The composition may optionally include liposomes.

The composition may be formulated in any manner known to those of ordinary skill in the art. In some embodiments, the composition is a solution, an emulsion, a cream, a lotion, a gel, or an ointment. The emulsion may be an oil-in-water emulsion or a water-in-oil emulsion. The composition may include any amount of active ingredient(s). For example, the composition may include from about 0.001% to about 5.0% by weight of chimeric polypeptide or other ingredient.

Other aspects of the present invention concern kits. The kit may include a sealed container that includes a recombinant polypeptide as set forth above, or a nucleic acid encoding a recombinant polypeptide as set forth above. The sealed container may be any type of sealed container. Non-limiting examples of sealed containers include a vial, a bottle, a dispenser, or a package. The kit may optionally include an applicator. The kit may include a sealed container that includes any of the compositions as set forth herein.

It is specifically contemplated that any limitation discussed with respect to one embodiment of the invention may apply to any other embodiment of the invention. Furthermore, any composition of the invention may be used in any method of the invention, and any method of the invention may be used to produce or to utilize any composition of the invention.

The use of the term “or” in the claims is used to mean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternative are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and “and/or.”

Throughout this application, the term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standard deviation of error for the device and/or method being employed to determine the value.

As used herein the specification, “a” or “an” may mean one or more, unless clearly indicated otherwise. As used herein in the claim(s), when used in conjunction with the word “comprising,” the words “a” or “an” may mean one or more than one. As used herein “another” may mean at least a second or more.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is in part based on the finding that the therapeutic efficacy of filaggrin as an agent to treat or prevent skin disease can be significantly improved by attaching a cell importation signal sequence to the filaggrin polypeptide. The cell importation sequence may include, for example, a motif of two to fifteen amino acids that include at least one arginine residue and at least one methionine residue. These polypeptides, and nucleic acids encoding these polypeptides, have application in the treatment or prevention of a wide variety of conditions, including skin diseases or disorders associated with abnormal keratinization or abnormal epidermal differentiation.

A. POLYPEPTIDES

1. Polypeptides in General

The present invention concerns polypeptides that includes a filaggrin amino acid sequence and a cell importation signal sequence. As used herein, a “polypeptide” generally is defined herein to refer to a peptide sequence of about 2 to about 10,000 or more amino acid residues.

The term “amino acid” not only encompasses the 20 common amino acids in naturally synthesized proteins, but also includes any modified, unusual, or synthetic amino acid. One of ordinary skill in the art would be familiar with modified, unusual, or synthetic amino acids. Examples of modified and unusual amino acids are shown on Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Modified and Unusual Amino Acids Abbr. Amino Acid Abbr. Amino Acid Aad 2-Aminoadipic acid EtAsn N-Ethylasparagine Baad 3-Aminoadipic acid Hyl Hydroxylysine Bala β-alanine, β-Amino-propionic AHyl allo-Hydroxylysine acid Abu 2-Aminobutyric acid 3Hyp 3-Hydroxyproline 4Abu 4-Aminobutyric acid, piperidinic 4Hyp 4-Hydroxyproline acid Acp 6-Aminocaproic acid Ide Isodesmosine Ahe 2-Aminoheptanoic acid AIle allo-Isoleucine Aib 2-Aminoisobutyric acid MeGly N-Methylglycine, sarcosine Abbr. Amino Acid Abbr. Amino Acid Baib 3-Aminoisobutyric acid MeIle N-Methylisoleucine Apm 2-Aminopimelic acid MeLys 6-N-Methyllysine Dbu 2,4-Diaminobutyric acid MeVal N-Methylvaline Des Desmosine Nva Norvaline Dpm 2,2′-Diaminopimelic acid Nle Norleucine Dpr 2,3-Diaminopropionic acid Orn Ornithine EtGly N-Ethylglycine

The polypeptides that are included in the methods set forth herein are chimeric in that they comprise a filaggrin amino acid sequence and a cell importation signal sequence. The polypeptides set forth herein may comprise one or more cell importation signal sequences, which may or may not be identical. Similarly, the polypeptides set forth herein may comprise one or more filaggrin amino acid sequences, which may or may not be identical.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, the polypeptide is a fusion polypeptide that includes a filaggrin amino acid sequence linked at the N- or C-terminus to a cell importation signal sequence. In other embodiments, the polypeptide comprises a linker interposed between the filaggrin amino acid sequence and the cell importation signal sequence. Linkers are discussed in greater detail in the specification below.

Furthermore, the polypeptides set forth herein may comprises a sequence of any number of additional amino acid residues at either the N-terminus or C-terminus of the amino acid sequence that includes the filaggrin amino acid sequence and the cell importation signal sequence. For example, there may be an amino acid sequence of about 3 to about 10,000 or more amino acid residues at either the N-terminus, the C-terminus, or both the N-terminus and C-terminus of the amino acid sequence that includes the filaggrin amino acid sequence and the cell importation signal sequence.

The polypeptide may include the addition of an immunologically active domain, such as an antibody epitope or other tag, to facilitate targeting or purification of the polypeptide. The use of 6× His and GST (glutathione S transferase) as tags is well known. Inclusion of a cleavage site at or near the fusion junction will facilitate removal of the extraneous polypeptide after purification. Other amino acid sequences that may be included in the polypeptide include functional domains, such as active sites from enzymes such as a hydrolase, glycosylation domains, cellular targeting signals or transmembrane regions. The polypeptide may further include one or more additional tissue-targeting moieties.

The polypeptides of the present invention may possess deletions and/or substitutions of amino acids relative to the native sequence; thus, sequences with a deletion, sequences with a substitution, and sequences with a deletion and a substitution are contemplated for inclusion in the polypeptides of the present invention. In some embodiments, these polypeptides may further include insertions or added amino acids, such as linkers.

Substitutional or replacement variants typically contain the exchange of one amino acid for another at one or more sites within the protein and may be designed to modulate one or more properties of the polypeptide, particularly to increase its efficacy or specificity. Substitutions of this kind preferably are conservative, that is, one amino acid is replaced with one of similar shape and charge. Conservative substitutions are well known in the art and include, for example, the changes of: alanine to serine; arginine to lysine; asparagine to glutamine or histidine; aspartate to glutamate; cysteine to serine; glutamine to asparagine; glutamate to aspartate; glycine to proline; histidine to asparagine or glutamine; isoleucine to leucine or valine; leucine to valine or isoleucine; lysine to arginine; methionine to leucine or isoleucine; phenylalanine to tyrosine, leucine or methionine; serine to threonine; threonine to serine; tryptophan to tyrosine; tyrosine to tryptophan or phenylalanine; and valine to isoleucine or leucine.

In addition to a deletion or substitution, the polypeptides may possess an insertion one or more residues. This may include the addition of one or more amino acid residues.

The term “biologically functional equivalent” is well understood in the art and is further defined in detail herein. Accordingly, sequences that have between about 70% and about 80%, or between about 81% and about 90%, or even between about 91% and about 99% of amino acids that are identical or functionally equivalent to the amino acids of the native filaggrin amino acid sequence or cell importation signal sequence are included, provided the biological activity of the native sequence is maintained.

Thus, the filaggrin amino acid sequence may be a biologically functionally equivalent to the native counterparts. For example, the filaggrin amino acid sequence may be functionally equivalent in terms of ability to maintain epidermal health. In some embodiments, the filaggrin amino acid sequence may have greater biological activity than their native counterparts.

The following is a discussion based upon changing of the amino acids of a polypeptide to create an equivalent, or even an improved, second-generation molecule. For example, certain amino acids may be substituted for other amino acids in a polypeptide without appreciable loss of function, such as ability to interact with an endothelial cell of a blood vessel. Since it is the interactive capacity and nature of a polypeptide that defines that polypeptide's biological functional activity, certain amino acid substitutions can be made in a polypeptide sequence and nevertheless produce a polypeptide with like properties.

In making such changes, the hydropathic index of amino acids may be considered. The importance of the hydropathic amino acid index in conferring interactive biologic function on a protein is generally understood in the art (Kyte and Doolittle, 1982). It is accepted that the relative hydropathic character of the amino acid contributes to the secondary structure of the resultant protein, which in turn defines the interaction of the protein with other molecules, for example, enzymes, substrates, receptors, DNA, antibodies, antigens, and the like.

It also is understood in the art that the substitution of like amino acids can be made effectively on the basis of hydrophilicity. U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,101, incorporated herein by reference, states that the greatest local average hydrophilicity of a protein, as governed by the hydrophilicity of its adjacent amino acids, correlates with a biological property of the protein. As detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,101, the following hydrophilicity values have been assigned to amino acid residues: arginine (+3.0); lysine (+3.0); aspartate (+3.0±1); glutamate (+3.0±1); serine (+0.3); asparagine (+0.2); glutamine (+0.2); glycine (0); threonine (−0.4); proline (−0.5±1); alanine (−0.5); histidine (−0.5); cysteine (−1.0); methionine (−1.3); valine (−1.5); leucine (−1.8); isoleucine (−1.8); tyrosine (−2.3); phenylalanine (−2.5); tryptophan (−3.4).

It is understood that an amino acid can be substituted for another having a similar hydrophilicity value and still produce a biologically equivalent and immunologically equivalent protein. In such changes, the substitution of amino acids whose hydrophilicity values are within ±2 is preferred, those that are within ±1 are particularly preferred, and those within ±0.5 are even more particularly preferred.

As outlined above, amino acid substitutions generally are based on the relative similarity of the amino acid side-chain substituents, for example, their hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, charge, size, and the like. Exemplary substitutions that take into consideration the various foregoing characteristics are well known to those of skill in the art and include: arginine and lysine; glutamate and aspartate; serine and threonine; glutamine and asparagine; and valine, leucine and isoleucine.

2. Filaggrin Amino Acid Sequences

The filaggrin amino acid sequences contemplated for inclusion in the polypeptides, compositions, and methods of the present invention may be obtained from any source. For example, the filaggrin amino acid may be obtained from a natural source or may be chemically synthesized. The filaggrin amino acid sequence may be from any species. For example, it may be a mammalian filaggrin amino acid sequence. Non-limiting examples include mouse, rat, rabbit, goat, sheep, horse, cow, dog, cat, primate, or human amino acid sequence. In preferred embodiments, the filaggrin amino acid sequence is a human amino acid sequence. Non-limiting examples of filaggrin proteins are set forth in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Examples of Filaggrin Protein Sequences Sequence GenBank Accession No. SEQ ID NO: Filaggrin, Homo sapiens  1 Filaggrin, Homo sapiens NP_002007  2 Filaggrin, Homo sapiens AAA52454  3 Filaggrin, Homo sapiens CAI19595  4 Filaggrin, Homo sapiens P20930  5 Filaggrin, Mus musculus  6 Filaggrin, Mus musculus AAM23016  7 Filaggrin, Mus musculus AAA75559  8 Filaggrin, Mus musculus AAA37626  9 Filaggrin, Mus musculus AAA37625 10 Filaggrin, Mus musculus XP_485270 11 Filaggrin, Mus musculus P11088 12 Filaggrin, Mus musculus EDL00668.1 13 Filaggrin, Rattus norvegicus EDL87862 14 Filaggrin, Pan troglodytes XP_001134714 15 Filaggrin, Pan troglodytes XP_513808 16 Filaggrin, Bos taurus XP_001255583 17 Filaggrin, Macaca mulatta XP_001101725.1 18 Filaggrin, Macaca mulatta XP_001109011.1 19

3. Cell Importation Signal Sequences

Any cell importation signal sequence that facilitates entry of a filaggrin amino acid sequence into a cell is contemplated as a cell importation signal sequence of the present invention. In some embodiments, the signal sequence includes a motif of two to fifteen amino acids, wherein the motif includes at least one arginine amino acid residue and at least one methionine amino acid residue. The arginine amino acid residue and the methionine amino acid residue may be consecutive residues within the motif, or they may be separated by one or more intervening amino acids. In some embodiments of the recombinant polypeptides of the present invention, the polypeptide includes more than one motif of two to fifteen amino acids, where each motif includes at least one arginine amino acid residue and at least one methionine amino acid residue. The motifs may include identical amino acid sequences or may have distinct amino acid sequences. Methionine/arginine-rich repeat motifs are discussed in Datar et al. (1993). Non-limiting examples of filaggrin proteins are set forth in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Examples of Cell Importation Signal Sequences Sequence SEQ ID NO: RMRRMRRMRR 23 RGRRGRRGRR 24 RRRRRRRRRR 25 RARRARRARR 26 RTRRTRRTRR 27 RSRRSRRSRR 28 RVRRVRRVRR 29 RKRRKRRKRR 30 RRRRRRR 31 RRRRRRRR 32 RRRRRRRRR 33 RRRRRRRRRRR 34 RRRRRRRRRRRR 35 RRRRRRRRRRRRR 36 RRRRRRRRRRRRRR 37 RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR 38

4. Methods of Polypeptide Synthesis

In certain embodiments of the present invention, the polypeptide is encoded by a single recombinant nucleic acid sequence using recombinant techniques. In other embodiments, the filaggrin amino acid sequence and the cell importation signal sequence are encoded by separate nucleic acid sequences, and subsequently joined by chemical conjugation. In further embodiments, the polypeptide has been synthesized de novo.

a. Recombinant Techniques

In certain embodiments of the present invention, the chimeric polypeptide is encoded by a single recombinant polynucleotide using recombinant techniques well-known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The polynucleotide may include a sequence of additional nucleic acids that direct the expression of the chimeric polypeptide in appropriate host cells.

Due to the inherent degeneracy of the genetic code, other DNA sequences that encode substantially the same or a functionally equivalent amino acid sequence, may be used in the practice of the invention of the cloning and expression of the chimeric protein. Such DNA sequences include those capable of hybridizing to the chimeric sequences or their complementary sequences under stringent conditions. In one embodiment, the phrase “stringent conditions” as used herein refers to those hybridizing conditions that (1) employ low ionic strength and high temperature for washing, for example, 0.015 M NaCl/0.0015 M sodium citrate/0.1% SDS at 50° C.; (2) employ during hybridization a denaturing agent such as formamide, for example, 50% (vol/vol) formamide with a 0.1% bovine serum albumin/0 1% Ficoll/0.1% polyvinylpyrrolidone/50 mM sodium phosphate buffer at pH 6.5 with 750 mM NaCl, 75 mM sodium citrate at 42° C.; or (3) employ 50% formamide, 5×SSC (0.75 M NaCl, 0.075 M Sodium pyrophosphate, 5× Denhardt's solution, sonicated salmon sperm DNA (50 μg/ml), 0.1% SDS, and 10% dextran sulfate at 42° C., with washes at 42° C. in 0.2×SSC and 0.1% SDS.

Altered DNA sequences that may be used in accordance with the invention include deletions, additions or substitutions of different nucleotide residues resulting in a sequence that encodes the same or a functionally equivalent polynucleotide. The polynucleotide may contain deletions, additions or substitutions of amino acid residues within a chimeric sequence, which result in a silent change thus producing a functionally equivalent chimeric polynucleotide. Such amino acid substitutions may be made on the basis of similarity in polarity, charge, solubility, hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, and/or the amphipathic nature of the residues involved, as discussed above.

The DNA sequences of the invention may be engineered in order to alter a chimeric coding sequence for a variety of ends, including but not limited to, alterations that modify processing and expression of the gene product. For example, mutations may be introduced using techniques that are well known in the art, e.g., site-directed mutagenesis, to insert new restriction sites, to alter glycosylation patterns, phosphorylation, etc.

In order to express a biologically active chimeric polypeptide, the nucleotide sequence coding for a chimeric polypeptide, or a functional equivalent, is inserted into an appropriate expression vector, i.e., a vector that contains the necessary elements for the transcription and translation of the inserted coding sequence. The chimeric gene products as well as host cells or cell lines transfected or transformed with recombinant chimeric expression vectors can be used for a variety of purposes. These include, but are not limited to, generating antibodies (i.e., monoclonal or polyclonal) that bind to epitopes of the proteins to facilitate their purification.

Methods that are well known to those skilled in the art can be used to construct expression vectors containing the chimeric coding sequence and appropriate transcriptional/translational control signals. These methods include in vitro recombinant DNA techniques, synthetic techniques and in vivo recombination/genetic recombination. See, for example, the techniques described in Sambrook et al., 2001.

A variety of host-expression vector systems may be utilized to express the chimeric polypeptide coding sequence. These include but are not limited to microorganisms such as bacteria transformed with recombinant bacteriophage DNA, plasmid DNA or cosmid DNA expression vectors containing the chimeric protein coding sequence; yeast transformed with recombinant yeast expression vectors containing the chimeric protein coding sequence; insect cell systems infected with recombinant virus expression vectors (e.g., baculovirus) containing the chimeric protein coding sequence; plant cell systems infected with recombinant virus expression vectors (e.g., cauliflower mosaic virus, CaMV; tobacco mosaic virus, TMV) or transformed with recombinant plasmid expression vectors (e.g., Ti plasmid) containing the chimeric protein coding sequence; or animal cell systems. It should be noted that since most apoptosis-inducing proteins cause programmed cell death in mammalian cells, it is preferred that the chimeric protein of the invention be expressed in prokaryotic or lower eukaryotic cells. Section 6 illustrates that IL2-Bax may be efficiently expressed in E. coli.

The expression elements of each system vary in their strength and specificities. Depending on the host/vector system utilized, any of a number of suitable transcription and translation elements, including constitutive and inducible promoters, may be used in the expression vector. For example, when cloning in bacterial systems, inducible promoters such as pL of bacteriophage λ, plac, ptrp, ptac (ptrp-lac hybrid promoter; cytomegalovirus promoter) and the like may be used; when cloning in insect cell systems, promoters such as the baculovirus polyhedrin promoter may be used; when cloning in plant cell systems, promoters derived from the genome of plant cells (e.g., heat shock promoters; the promoter for the small subunit of RUBISCO; the promoter for the chlorophyll α/β binding protein) or from plant viruses (e.g., the 35S RNA promoter of CaMV; the coat protein promoter of TMV) may be used; when cloning in mammalian cell systems, promoters derived from the genome of mammalian cells (e.g., metallothionein promoter) or from mammalian viruses (e.g., the adenovirus late promoter; the vaccinia virus 7.5K promoter) may be used; when generating cell lines that contain multiple copies of the chimeric DNA, SV40-, BPV- and EBV-based vectors may be used with an appropriate selectable marker.

In bacterial systems a number of expression vectors may be advantageously selected depending upon the use intended for the chimeric polypeptide expressed. For example, when large quantities of chimeric polypeptide are to be produced, vectors that direct the expression of high levels of protein products that are readily purified may be desirable. Such vectors include but are not limited to the E. coli expression vector pUR278 (Ruther et al., 1983), in which the chimeric protein coding sequence may be ligated into the vector in frame with the lacZ coding region so that a hybrid AS-lacZ protein is produced; pIN vectors (Van Heeke and Schuster, 1989); and the like.

An alternative expression system that could be used to express chimeric polypeptide is an insect system. In one such system, Autographa californica nuclear polyhidrosis virus (AcNPV) is used as a vector to express foreign genes. The virus grows in Spodoptera frugiperda cells. The chimeric protein coding sequence may be cloned into non-essential regions (for example the polyhedrin gene) of the virus and placed under control of an AcNPV promoter (for example the polyhedrin promoter). Successful insertion of the chimeric polypeptide coding sequence will result in inactivation of the polyhedrin gene and production of non-occluded recombinant virus (i.e., virus lacking the proteinaceous coat coded for by the polyhedrin gene). These recombinant viruses are then used to infect Spodoptera frugiperda cells in which the inserted gene is expressed. (e.g., see Smith et al., 1983; U.S. Pat. No. 4,215,051).

Specific initiation signals may also be required for efficient translation of the inserted chimeric protein coding sequence. These signals include the ATG initiation codon and adjacent sequences. In cases where the entire chimeric gene, including its own initiation codon and adjacent sequences, is inserted into the appropriate expression vector, no additional translational control signals may be needed. However, in cases where the chimeric protein coding sequence does not include its own initiation codon, exogenous translational control signals, including the ATG initiation codon, must be provided. Furthermore, the initiation codon must be in phase with the reading frame of the chimeric protein coding sequence to ensure translation of the entire insert. These exogenous translational control signals and initiation codons can be of a variety of origins, both natural and synthetic. The efficiency of expression may be enhanced by the inclusion of appropriate transcription enhancer elements, transcription terminators, etc. (see Bittner et al., 1987).

In addition, a host cell strain may be chosen which modulates the expression of the inserted sequences, or modifies and processes the gene product in the specific fashion desired. Such modifications (e.g., glycosylation) and processing (e.g., cleavage) of protein products may be important for the function of the protein. The presence of consensus N-glycosylation sites in a chimeric protein may require proper modification for optimal chimeric protein function. Different host cells have characteristic and specific mechanisms for the post-translational processing and modification of proteins. Appropriate cell lines or host systems can be chosen to ensure the correct modification and processing of the chimeric protein. To this end, eukaryotic host cells which possess the cellular machinery for proper processing of the primary transcript, glycosylation, and phosphorylation of the chimeric protein may be used. Such mammalian host cells include but are not limited to CHO, VERO, BHK, HeLa, COS, MDCK, 293, W138, and the like.

For long-term, high-yield production of recombinant chimeric polypeptides, stable expression is preferred. For example, cell lines that stably express the chimeric polypeptide may be engineered. Rather than using expression vectors that contain viral originals of replication, host cells can be transformed with a chimeric coding sequence controlled by appropriate expression control elements (e.g., promoter, enhancer, sequences, transcription terminators, polyadenylation sites, etc.), and a selectable marker. Following the introduction of foreign DNA, engineered cells may be allowed to grow for 1-2 days in an enriched media, and then are switched to a selective media. The selectable marker in the recombinant plasmid confers resistance to the selection and allows cells to stably integrate the plasmid into their chromosomes and grow to form foci which in turn can be cloned and expanded into cell lines.

A number of selection systems may be used, including but not limited to the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (Wigler et al., 1977), hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (Szybalski and Szybalski, 1962), and adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (Lowy et al., 1980) genes can be employed in tk-, hgprt- or aprt-cells, respectively. Also, antimetabolite resistance can be used as the basis of selection for dhfr, which confers resistance to methotrexate (Wigler et al., 1980; O'Hare et al., 1981); gpt, which confers resistance to mycophenolic acid (Mulligan and Berg, 1981); neo, which confers resistance to the aminoglycoside G-418 (Colbere-Garapin et al., 1981); and hygro, which confers resistance to hygromycin (Santerre et al., 1984) genes. Additional selectable genes have been described, namely trpB, which allows cells to utilize indole in place of tryptophan; hisD, which allows cells to utilize histinol in place of histidine (Hartman and Mulligan, 1988); and ODC (ornithine decarboxylase) which confers resistance to the ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor, 2-(difluoromethyl)-DL-ornithine, DFMO (see McConlogue, 1986).

b. De Novo Synthesis

In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the chimeric polypeptide could be synthesized de novo in whole or in part, using chemical methods well known in the art (see, for example, Caruthers et al., 1980; Crea and Horn, 1980; and Chow and Kempe, 1981). For example, the component amino acid sequences can be synthesized by solid phase techniques, cleaved from the resin, and purified by preparative high performance liquid chromatography followed by chemical linkage to form a chimeric protein. (e.g., see Creighton, 1983). The composition of the synthetic peptides may be confirmed by amino acid analysis or sequencing (e.g., the Edman degradation procedure; see Creighton, 1983).

Polypeptide synthesis techniques are well known to those of skill in the art (see, e.g., Bodanszky et al., 1976). These synthetic methods involve the sequential addition of one or more amino acid residues or suitable protected amino acid residues to a growing peptide chain. Normally, either the amino or carboxyl group of the first amino acid residue is protected by a suitable, selectively removable protecting group. A different, selectively removable protecting group is utilized for amino acids containing a reactive side group, such as lysine.

Using solid phase synthesis as an example, the protected or derivatized amino acid is attached to an inert solid support through its unprotected carboxyl or amino group. The protecting group of the amino or carboxyl group is then selectively removed and the next amino acid in the sequence having the complementary (amino or carboxyl) group suitably protected is admixed and reacted with the residue already attached to the solid support. The protecting group of the amino or carboxyl group is then removed from this newly added amino acid residue, and the next amino acid (suitably protected) is then added, and so forth. After all the desired amino acids have been linked in the proper sequence, any remaining terminal and side group protecting groups (and solid support) are removed sequentially or concurrently, to provide the final peptide. Such protecting group moieties may be used in the course of synthesis, but they are removed before the peptides are used. Additional reactions may be necessary, as described elsewhere, to form intramolecular linkages to restrain conformation.

c. Linkers

Alternatively, the two moieties of the chimeric polypeptide produced by synthetic or recombinant methods may be conjugated by linkers according to methods well known in the art (Brinkmann and Pastan, 1994). As used herein, a “linker” is a chemical or peptide or polypeptide that links an endothelial targeting amino acid sequence with a cytotoxic amino acid squence.

The two coding sequences can be fused directly without any linker or by using a flexible polylinker, such as one composed of the pentamer Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser (SEQ ID NO:39) repeated 1 to 3 times. Such linker has been used in constructing single chain antibodies (scFv) by being inserted between V_(H) and V_(L) (Bird et al., 1988; Huston et al., 1988). The linker is designed to enable the correct interaction between two beta-sheets forming the variable region of the single chain antibody. Other linkers which may be used include Glu-Gly-Lys-Ser-Ser-Gly-Ser-Gly-Ser-Glu-Ser-Lys-Val-Asp (SEQ ID NO:40) (Chaudhary et al., 1990) and Lys-Glu-Ser-Gly-Ser-Val-Ser-Ser-Glu-Gln-Leu-Ala-Gln-Phe-Arg-Ser-Leu-Asp (SEQ ID NO:41) (Bird et al., 1988).

Multiple peptides or polypeptides may also be joined via a biologically-releasable bond, such as a selectively-cleavable linker or amino acid sequence. For example, peptide linkers that include a cleavage site for an enzyme preferentially located or active within a tumor environment are contemplated. Exemplary forms of such peptide linkers are those that are cleaved by urokinase, plasmin, thrombin, Factor IXa, Factor Xa, or a metallaproteinase, such as collagenase, gelatinase, or stromelysin. Alternatively, polypeptides may be joined to an adjuvant. It can be considered as a general guideline that any linker known to those of ordinary skill in the art is contemplated for use as a linker in the present invention.

It is contemplated that cross-linkers may be implemented with the polypeptide molecules of the present invention. Cross-linking reagents are used to form molecular bridges that tie together functional groups of two different molecules, e.g., a stablizing and coagulating agent. To link two different polypeptides in a step-wise manner, hetero-bifunctional cross-linkers can be used that eliminate unwanted homopolymer formation. Bifunctional cross-linking reagents have been extensively used for a variety of purposes including preparation of affinity matrices, modification and stabilization of diverse structures, identification of binding sites, and structural studies. In the context of the invention, such cross-linker may be used to stabilize the polypeptide or to render it more useful as a therapeutic, for example, by improving the polypeptide's targeting capability or overall efficacy. Cross-linkers may also be cleavable, such as disulfides, acid-sensitive linkers, and others. Homobifunctional reagents that carry two identical functional groups proved to be highly efficient in inducing cross-linking between identical and different macromolecules or subunits of a macromolecule, and linking of polypeptides to specific binding sites on binding partners. Heterobifunctional reagents contain two different functional groups. By taking advantage of the differential reactivities of the two different functional groups, cross-linking can be controlled both selectively and sequentially. The bifunctional cross-linking reagents can be divided according to the specificity of their functional groups, e.g., amino, sulfhydryl, guanidino, indole, carboxyl specific groups. Of these, reagents directed to free amino groups have become especially popular because of their commercial availability, ease of synthesis and the mild reaction conditions under which they can be applied. A majority of heterobifunctional cross-linking reagents contains a primary amine-reactive group and a thiol-reactive group.

In another example, heterobifunctional cross-linking reagents and methods of using the cross-linking reagents are described (U.S. Pat. No. 5,889,155, specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). The cross-linking reagents combine a nucleophilic hydrazide residue with an electrophilic maleimide residue, allowing coupling in one example, of aldehydes to free thiols. The cross-linking reagent can be modified to cross-link various functional groups and is thus useful for cross-linking polypeptides and sugars. In instances where a particular polypeptide, such as gelonin, does not contain a residue amenable for a given cross-linking reagent in its native sequence, conservative genetic or synthetic amino acid changes in the primary sequence can be utilized. Table 4 details certain exemplary hetero-bifunctional cross-linkers considered useful in the present invention.

TABLE 4 HETERO-BIFUNCTIONAL CROSS-LINKERS Spacer Arm Advantages and Length\after Linker Reactive Toward Applications cross-linking SMPT Primary amines Greater stability 11.2 A Sulfhydryls SPDP Primary amines Thiolation  6.8 A Sulfhydryls Cleavable cross-linking LC-SPDP Primary amines Extended spacer arm 15.6 A Sulfhydryls Sulfo-LC- Primary amines Extended spacer arm 15.6 A SPDP Sulfhydryls Water-soluble SMCC Primary amines Stable maleimide 11.6 A Sulfhydryls reactive group Enzyme-antibody conjugation Hapten-carrier protein conjugation Sulfo- Primary amines Stable maleimide 11.6 A reactive group SMCC Sulfhydryls Water-soluble Enzyme-antibody conjugation MBS Primary amines Enzyme-antibody  9.9 A Sulfhydryls conjugation Hapten-carrier protein conjugation Sulfo- Primary amines Water-soluble  9.9 A MBS Sulfhydryls SIAB Primary amines Enzyme-antibody 10.6 A Sulfhydryls conjugation Sulfo- Primary amines Water-soluble 10.6 A SIAB Sulfhydryls SMPB Primary amines Extended spacer arm 14.5 A Sulfhydryls Enzyme-antibody conjugation Sulfo- Primary amines Extended spacer arm 14.5 A SMPB Sulfhydryls Water-soluble EDC/Sulfo- Primary amines Hapten-Carrier  0 NHS Carboxyl groups conjugation ABH Carbohydrates Reacts with sugar groups 11.9 A Nonselective

d. Protein Purification

In certain embodiments of the present invention, the polypeptide has been purified. Generally, “purified” will refer to a polypeptide composition that has been subjected to fractionation to remove various other components, and which composition substantially retains its expressed biological activity. Where the term “substantially purified” is used, this designation will refer to a composition in which the polypeptide or peptide forms the major component of the composition, such as constituting about 50% to about 99.9% or more of the proteins in the composition.

Various methods for quantifying the degree of purification of the polypeptide will be known to those of skill in the art in light of the present disclosure. Exemplary techniques include high performance liquid chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, gel electrophoresis, affinity chromatography and the like. The actual conditions used to purify a particular polypeptide will depend, in part, on factors such as net charge, hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, etc., and will be apparent to those having skill in the art.

For affinity chromatography purification, any antibody that specifically binds the polypeptide may be used. For the production of antibodies, various host animals, including but not limited to rabbits, mice, rats, etc., may be immunized by injection with a chimeric protein or a fragment thereof. The protein may be attached to a suitable carrier, such as bovine serum albumin (BSA), by means of a side chain functional group or linkers attached to a side chain functional group. Various adjuvants may be used to increase the immunological response, depending on the host species, including but not limited to, Freund's (complete and incomplete), mineral gels such as aluminum hydroxide, surface active substances such as lysolecithin, pluronic polyols, polyanions, peptides, oil emulsions, keyhold limpet hemocyanin, dinitrophenol, and potentially useful human adjuvants such as BCG (bacilli Calmetter-Guerin) and Corynebacterium parvum.

Monoclonal antibodies to a chimeric polypeptide may be prepared using any technique that provides for the production of antibody molecules by continuous cell lines in culture. These include but are not limited to the hybridoma technique originally described by Kohler and Milstein (1975), the human B-cell hybridoma technique (Cote et al., 1983), and the EBV-hybridoma technique (Cole et al., 1985). In addition, techniques developed for the production of “chimeric antibodies” (Morrison et al., 1984; Neuberger et al., 1984; Takeda et al., 1985) by splicing the genes from a mouse antibody molecule of appropriate antigen specificity together with genes from a human antibody molecule of appropriate biological activity can be used. Alternatively, techniques described for the production of single chain antibodies (U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778) can be adapted to produce chimeric protein-specific single chain antibodies for chimeric protein purification and detection.

B. NUCLEIC ACIDS

The present invention includes nucleic acids that include a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a recombinant polypeptide of the present invention.

The term “nucleic acid” is well known in the art. A “nucleic acid” as used herein will generally refer to a molecule (i.e., a strand) of DNA, RNA or a derivative or analog thereof, comprising a nucleobase. A nucleobase includes, for example, a naturally occurring purine or pyrimidine base found in DNA (e.g., an adenine “A,” a guanine “G,” a thymine “T” or a cytosine “C”) or RNA (e.g., an A, a G, an uracil “U” or a C). The term “nucleic acid” encompass the terms “oligonucleotide” and “polynucleotide,” each as a subgenus of the term “nucleic acid.” The term “oligonucleotide” refers to a molecule of between 3 and about 100 nucleobases in length. The term “polynucleotide” refers to at least one molecule of greater than about 100 nucleobases in length.

These definitions refer to a single-stranded or double-stranded nucleic acid molecule. Double stranded nucleic acids are formed by fully complementary binding, although in some embodiments a double stranded nucleic acid may formed by partial or substantial complementary binding. Thus, a nucleic acid may encompass a double-stranded molecule that comprises one or more complementary strand(s) or “complement(s)” of a particular sequence, typically comprising a molecule. As used herein, a single stranded nucleic acid may be denoted by the prefix “ss” and a double stranded nucleic acid by the prefix “ds”.

1. Nucleobases

As used herein a “nucleobase” refers to a heterocyclic base, such as for example a naturally occurring nucleobase (i.e., an A, T, G, C or U) found in at least one naturally occurring nucleic acid (i.e., DNA and RNA), and naturally or non-naturally occurring derivative(s) and analogs of such a nucleobase. A nucleobase generally can form one or more hydrogen bonds (“anneal” or “hybridize”) with at least one naturally occurring nucleobase in manner that may substitute for naturally occurring nucleobase pairing (e.g., the hydrogen bonding between A and T, G and C, and A and U).

“Purine” and/or “pyrimidine” nucleobase(s) encompass naturally occurring purine and/or pyrimidine nucleobases and also derivative(s) and analog(s) thereof, including but not limited to, those a purine or pyrimidine substituted by one or more of an alkyl, caboxyalkyl, amino, hydroxyl, halogen (i.e., fluoro, chloro, bromo, or iodo), thiol or alkylthiol moeity. Preferred alkyl (e.g., alkyl, caboxyalkyl, etc.) moeities comprise of from about 1, about 2, about 3, about 4, about 5, to about 6 carbon atoms. A nucleobase may be comprised in a nucleside or nucleotide, using any chemical or natural synthesis method described herein or known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

2. Nucleosides

As used herein, a “nucleoside” refers to an individual chemical unit comprising a nucleobase covalently attached to a nucleobase linker moiety. A non-limiting example of a “nucleobase linker moiety” is a sugar comprising 5-carbon atoms (i.e., a “5-carbon sugar”), including but not limited to a deoxyribose, a ribose, an arabinose, or a derivative or an analog of a 5-carbon sugar. Non-limiting examples of a derivative or an analog of a 5-carbon sugar include a 2′-fluoro-2′-deoxyribose or a carbocyclic sugar where a carbon is substituted for an oxygen atom in the sugar ring.

Different types of covalent attachment(s) of a nucleobase to a nucleobase linker moiety are known in the art. By way of non-limiting example, a nucleoside comprising a purine (i.e., A or G) or a 7-deazapurine nucleobase typically covalently attaches the 9 position of a purine or a 7-deazapurine to the 1′-position of a 5-carbon sugar. In another non-limiting example, a nucleoside comprising a pyrimidine nucleobase (i.e., C, T or U) typically covalently attaches a 1 position of a pyrimidine to a 1′-position of a 5-carbon sugar (Kornberg and Baker, 1992).

3. Nucleotides

As used herein, a “nucleotide” refers to a nucleoside further comprising a “backbone moiety”. A backbone moiety generally covalently attaches a nucleotide to another molecule comprising a nucleotide, or to another nucleotide to form a nucleic acid. The “backbone moiety” in naturally occurring nucleotides typically comprises a phosphorus moiety, which is covalently attached to a 5-carbon sugar. The attachment of the backbone moiety typically occurs at either the 3′- or 5′-position of the 5-carbon sugar. However, other types of attachments are known in the art, particularly when a nucleotide comprises derivatives or analogs of a naturally occurring 5-carbon sugar or phosphorus moiety.

4. Nucleic Acid Analogs

A nucleic acid may comprise, or be composed entirely of, a derivative or analog of a nucleobase, a nucleobase linker moiety and/or backbone moiety that may be present in a naturally occurring nucleic acid. As used herein a “derivative” refers to a chemically modified or altered form of a naturally occurring molecule, while the terms “mimic” or “analog” refer to a molecule that may or may not structurally resemble a naturally occurring molecule or moiety, but possesses similar functions. As used herein, a “moiety” generally refers to a smaller chemical or molecular component of a larger chemical or molecular structure. Nucleobase, nucleoside and nucleotide analogs or derivatives are well known in the art, and have been described (see for example, Scheit, 1980, incorporated herein by reference).

Additional non-limiting examples of nucleosides, nucleotides, or nucleic acids comprising 5-carbon sugar and/or backbone moiety derivatives or analogs, include those in U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,947 which describes oligonucleotides comprising purine derivatives that form triple helixes with and/or prevent expression of dsDNA; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,652,099 and 5,763,167 which describe nucleic acids incorporating fluorescent analogs of nucleosides found in DNA or RNA, particularly for use as flourescent nucleic acids probes; U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,617 which describes oligonucleotide analogs with substitutions on pyrimidine rings that possess enhanced nuclease stability; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,670,663, 5,872,232 and 5,859,221 which describe oligonucleotide analogs with modified 5-carbon sugars (i.e., modified 2′-deoxyfuranosyl moieties) used in nucleic acid detection; U.S. Patent 5,446,137 which describes oligonucleotides comprising at least one 5-carbon sugar moiety substituted at the 4′ position with a substituent other than hydrogen that can be used in hybridization assays; U.S. Pat. No. 5,886,165 which describes oligonucleotides with both deoxyribonucleotides with 3′-5′ internucleotide linkages and ribonucleotides with 2′-5′ internucleotide linkages; U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,606 which describes a modified internucleotide linkage wherein a 3′-position oxygen of the internucleotide linkage is replaced by a carbon to enhance the nuclease resistance of nucleic acids; U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,697 which describes oligonucleotides containing one or more 5′ methylene phosphonate internucleotide linkages that enhance nuclease resistance; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,466,786 and 5,792,847 which describe the linkage of a substituent moeity which may comprise a drug or label to the 2′ carbon of an oligonucleotide to provide enhanced nuclease stability and ability to deliver drugs or detection moieties; U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,618 which describes oligonucleotide analogs with a 2 or 3 carbon backbone linkage attaching the 4′ position and 3′ position of adjacent 5-carbon sugar moiety to enhanced cellular uptake, resistance to nucleases and hybridization to target RNA; U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,967 which describes oligonucleotides comprising at least one sulfamate or sulfamide internucleotide linkage that are useful as nucleic acid hybridization probe; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,378,825, 5,777,092, 5,623,070, 5,610,289 and 5,602,240 which describe oligonucleotides with three or four atom linker moeity replacing phosphodiester backbone moeity used for improved nuclease resistance, cellular uptake and regulating RNA expression; U.S. Pat. No. 5,858,988 which describes hydrophobic carrier agent attached to the 2′-O position of oligonuceotides to enhanced their membrane permeability and stability; U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,136 which describes olignucleotides conjugated to anthraquinone at the 5′ terminus that possess enhanced hybridization to DNA or RNA; enhanced stability to nucleases; U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,922 which describes PNA-DNA-PNA chimeras wherein the DNA comprises 2′-deoxy-erythro-pentofuranosyl nucleotides for enhanced nuclease resistance, binding affinity, and ability to activate RNase H; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,708,154 which describes RNA linked to a DNA to form a DNA-RNA hybrid.

5. Polyether Nucleic Acids

In certain embodiments, it is contemplated that a nucleic acid comprising a derivative or analog of a nucleoside or nucleotide may be used in the methods and compositions of the invention. A non-limiting example is a “polyether nucleic acid”, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,845, incorporated herein by reference. In a polyether nucleic acid, one or more nucleobases are linked to chiral carbon atoms in a polyether backbone.

6. Preparation of Nucleic Acids

A nucleic acid may be made by any technique known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such as chemical synthesis, enzymatic production or biological production. Non-limiting examples of a synthetic nucleic acid (e.g., a synthetic oligonucleotide), include a nucleic acid made by in vitro chemically synthesis using phosphotriester, phosphite or phosphoramidite chemistry and solid phase techniques such as described in EP 266,032, incorporated herein by reference, or via deoxynucleoside H-phosphonate intermediates as described by Froehler et al., 1986 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,629, each incorporated herein by reference. In the methods of the present invention, one or more oligonucleotide may be used. Various different mechanisms of oligonucleotide synthesis have been disclosed in for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,659,774, 4,816,571, 5,141,813, 5,264,566, 4,959,463, 5,428,148, 5,554,744, 5,574,146, 5,602,244, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

A non-limiting example of an enzymatically produced nucleic acid include one produced by enzymes in amplification reactions such as PCR™ (see for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,683,202 and 4,682,195, each incorporated herein by reference), or the synthesis of an oligonucleotide described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,897, incorporated herein by reference. A non-limiting example of a biologically produced nucleic acid includes a recombinant nucleic acid produced (i.e., replicated) in a living cell, such as a recombinant DNA vector replicated in bacteria (see for example, Sambrook et al. 2001, incorporated herein by reference).

7. Purification of Nucleic Acids

A nucleic acid may be purified on polyacrylamide gels, cesium chloride centrifugation gradients, or by any other means known to one of ordinary skill in the art (see for example, Sambrook et al., 2001, incorporated herein by reference).

In certain embodiments, the present invention concerns a nucleic acid that is an isolated nucleic acid. As used herein, the term “isolated nucleic acid” refers to a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., an RNA or DNA molecule) that has been isolated free of, or is otherwise free of, the bulk of the total genomic and transcribed nucleic acids of one or more cells. In certain embodiments, “isolated nucleic acid” refers to a nucleic acid that has been isolated free of, or is otherwise free of, bulk of cellular components or in vitro reaction components such as for example, macromolecules such as lipids or proteins, small biological molecules, and the like.

C. LIPID PREPARATIONS

Some embodiments of the present invention concern polypeptide- or nucleic acid-containing compositions that include a lipid component. A lipid component may include one type of lipid, or more than one type of lipid.

Lipids are fatty substances which may be naturally occurring or synthetic lipids. For example, lipids include the fatty droplets that naturally occur in the cytoplasm as well as the class of compounds which are well known to those of skill in the art which contain long-chain aliphatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives, such as fatty acids, alcohols, amines, amino alcohols, and aldehydes.

Some embodiments of the compositions of the present invention include liposomes. “Liposome” is a generic term encompassing a variety of unilamellar, multilamellar, and multivesicular lipid vehicles formed by the generation of enclosed lipid bilayers or aggregates. Liposomes may be characterized as having vesicular structures with a phospholipid bilayer membrane and an inner aqueous medium. Multilamellar liposomes have multiple lipid layers separated by aqueous medium. They form spontaneously when phospholipids are suspended in an excess of aqueous solution. The lipid components undergo self-rearrangement before the formation of closed structures and entrap water and dissolved solutes between the lipid bilayers (Ghosh and Bachhawat, 1991). However, the present invention also encompasses compositions that have different structures in solution than the normal vesicular structure. For example, the lipids may assume a micellar structure or merely exist as non-uniform aggregates of lipid molecules. Also contemplated are lipofectamine-nucleic acid complexes.

1. Neutral Liposomes

“Neutral liposomes or lipid composition” or “non-charged liposomes or lipid composition,” as used herein, are defined as liposomes or lipid compositions having one or more lipids that yield an essentially-neutral, net charge (substantially non-charged). By “essentially neutral” or “essentially non-charged”, it is meant that few, if any, lipids within a given population (e.g., a population of liposomes) include a charge that is not canceled by an opposite charge of another component (e.g., fewer than 10% of components include a non-canceled charge, more preferably fewer than 5%, and most preferably fewer than 1%). In certain embodiments of the present invention, a composition may be prepared wherein the lipid component of the composition is essentially neutral but is not in the form of liposomes.

In certain embodiments, neutral liposomes or lipid compositions may include mostly lipids and/or phospholipids that are themselves neutral. In certain embodiments, amphipathic lipids may be incorporated into or used to generate neutral liposomes or lipid compositions. For example, a neutral liposome may be generated by combining positively and negatively charged lipids so that those charges substantially cancel one another. For such a liposome, few, if any, charged lipids are present whose charge is not canceled by an oppositely-charged lipid (e.g., fewer than 10% of charged lipids have a charge that is not canceled, more preferably fewer than 5%, and most preferably fewer than 1%). It is also recognized that the above approach may be used to generate a neutral lipid composition wherein the lipid component of the composition is not in the form of liposomes.

2. Phospholipids

Lipid-containing compositions of the present invention may comprise phospholipids. In certain embodiments, a single kind or type of phospholipid may be used in the creation of lipid compositions such as liposomes (e.g., DOPC used to generate neutral liposomes). In other embodiments, more than one kind or type of phospholipid may be used.

Phospholipids include glycerophospholipids and certain sphingolipids. Phospholipids include, but are not limited to, dioleoylphosphatidylycholine (“DOPC”), egg phosphatidylcholine (“EPC”), dilauryloylphosphatidylcholine (“DLPC”), dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (“DMPC”), dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (“DPPC”), distearoylphosphatidylcholine (“DSPC”), 1-myristoyl-2-palmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (“MPPC”), 1-palmitoyl-2-myristoyl phosphatidylcholine (“PMPC”), 1-palmitoyl-2-stearoyl phosphatidylcholine (“PSPC”), 1-stearoyl-2-palmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (“SPPC”), dilauryloylphosphatidylglycerol (“DLPG”), dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol (“DMPG”), dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (“DPPG”), distearoylphosphatidylglycerol (“DSPG”), distearoyl sphingomyelin (“DSSP”), distearoylphophatidylethanolamine (“DSPE”), dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol (“DOPG”), dimyristoyl phosphatidic acid (“DMPA”), dipalmitoyl phosphatidic acid (“DPPA”), dimyristoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (“DMPE”), dipalmitoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (“DPPE”), dimyristoyl phosphatidylserine (“DMPS”), dipalmitoyl phosphatidylserine (“DPPS”), brain phosphatidylserine (“BPS”), brain sphingomyelin (“BSP”), dipalmitoyl sphingomyelin (“DPSP”), dimyristyl phosphatidylcholine (“DMPC”), 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (“DAPC”), 1,2-diarachidoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (“DBPC”), 1,2-dieicosenoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (“DEPC”), dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (“DOPE”), palmitoyloeoyl phosphatidylcholine (“POPC”), palmitoyloeoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (“POPE”), lysophosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, and dilinoleoylphosphatidylcholine.

Phospholipids include, for example, phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylglycerols, and phosphatidylethanolamines; because phosphatidylethanolamines and phosphatidyl cholines are non-charged under physiological conditions (i.e., at about pH 7), these compounds may be particularly useful for generating neutral liposomes. In certain embodiments, the phospholipid DOPC is used to produce non-charged liposomes or lipid compositions. In certain embodiments, a lipid that is not a phospholipid (e.g., a cholesterol) can also be used

Phospholipids may be from natural or synthetic sources. However, phospholipids from natural sources, such as egg or soybean phosphatidylcholine, brain phosphatidic acid, brain or plant phosphatidylinositol, heart cardiolipin and plant or bacterial phosphatidylethanolamine are not used in certain embodiments as the primary phosphatide (i.e., constituting 50% or more of the total phosphatide composition) because this may result in instability and leakiness of the resulting liposomes.

3. Production of Liposomes

Liposomes and lipid compositions of the present invention can be made by different methods. For example, a nucleotide (e.g., siRNA) may be encapsulated in a neutral liposome using a method involving ethanol and calcium (Bailey and Sullivan, 2000). The size of the liposomes varies depending on the method of synthesis. A liposome suspended in an aqueous solution is generally in the shape of a spherical vesicle, and may have one or more concentric layers of lipid bilayer molecules. Each layer consists of a parallel array of molecules represented by the formula XY, wherein X is a hydrophilic moiety and Y is a hydrophobic moiety. In aqueous suspension, the concentric layers are arranged such that the hydrophilic moieties tend to remain in contact with an aqueous phase and the hydrophobic regions tend to self-associate. For example, when aqueous phases are present both within and without the liposome, the lipid molecules may form a bilayer, known as a lamella, of the arrangement XY-YX. Aggregates of lipids may form when the hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts of more than one lipid molecule become associated with each other. The size and shape of these aggregates will depend upon many different variables, such as the nature of the solvent and the presence of other compounds in the solution.

Lipids suitable for use according to the present invention can be obtained from commercial sources. For example, dimyristyl phosphatidylcholine (“DMPC”) can be obtained from Sigma Chemical Co., dicetyl phosphate (“DCP”) can be obtained from K & K Laboratories (Plainview, N.Y.); cholesterol (“Chol”) can be obtained from Calbiochem-Behring; dimyristyl phosphatidylglycerol (“DMPG”) and other lipids may be obtained from Avanti Polar Lipids, Inc. (Birmingham, Ala.). Stock solutions of lipids in chloroform or chloroform/methanol can be stored at about −20° C. Chloroform may be used as the only solvent since it is more readily evaporated than methanol.

Liposomes within the scope of the present invention can be prepared in accordance with known laboratory techniques. In certain embodiments, liposomes are prepared by mixing liposomal lipids, in a solvent in a container (e.g., a glass, pear-shaped flask). The container will typically have a volume ten-times greater than the volume of the expected suspension of liposomes. Using a rotary evaporator, the solvent may be removed at approximately 40° C. under negative pressure. The solvent may be removed within about 5 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the desired volume of the liposomes. The composition can be dried further in a desiccator under vacuum. Dried lipids can be hydrated at approximately 25-50 mM phospholipid in sterile, pyrogen-free water by shaking until all the lipid film is resuspended. The aqueous liposomes can be then separated into aliquots, each placed in a vial, lyophilized and sealed under vacuum. Liposomes can also be prepared in accordance with other known laboratory procedures.

D. COMPOSITIONS

1. Combinations and Amounts of Ingredients

It is contemplated that the compositions of the present invention may include number of combinations of the polypeptides and nucleic acids disclosed throughout this specification. Additionally, the compositions can include any number of combinations of additional ingredients described throughout this specification. The concentrations of the polypeptides, nucleic acids, and additional ingredients can vary. In non-limiting embodiments, for example, the compositions can include in their final form, for example, at least about 0.0001%, 0.0002%, 0.0003%, 0.0004%, 0.0005%, 0.0006%, 0.0007%, 0.0008%, 0.0009%, 0.0010%, 0.0011%, 0.0012%, 0.0013%, 0.0014%, 0.0015%, 0.0016%, 0.0017%, 0.0018%, 0.0019%, 0.0020%, 0.0021%, 0.0022%, 0.0023%, 0.0024%, 0.0025%, 0.0026%, 0.0027%, 0.0028%, 0.0029%, 0.0030%, 0.0031%, 0.0032%, 0.0033%, 0.0034%, 0.0035%, 0.0036%, 0.0037%, 0.0038%, 0.0039%, 0.0040%, 0.0041%, 0.0042%, 0.0043%, 0.0044%, 0.0045%, 0.0046%, 0.0047%, 0.0048%, 0.0049%, 0.0050%, 0.0051%, 0.0052%, 0.0053%, 0.0054%, 0.0055%, 0.0056%, 0.0057%, 0.0058%, 0.0059%, 0.0060%, 0.0061%, 0.0062%, 0.0063%, 0.0064%, 0.0065%, 0.0066%, 0.0067%, 0.0068%, 0.0069%, 0.0070%, 0.0071%, 0.0072%, 0.0073%, 0.0074%, 0.0075%, 0.0076%, 0.0077%, 0.0078%, 0.0079%, 0.0080%, 0.0081%, 0.0082%, 0.0083%, 0.0084%, 0.0085%, 0.0086%, 0.0087%, 0.0088%, 0.0089%, 0.0090%, 0.0091%, 0.0092%, 0.0093%, 0.0094%, 0.0095%, 0.0096%, 0.0097%, 0.0098%, 0.0099%, 0.0100%, 0.0200%, 0.0250%, 0.0275%, 0.0300%, 0.0325%, 0.0350%, 0.0375%, 0.0400%, 0.0425%, 0.0450%, 0.0475%, 0.0500%, 0.0525%, 0.0550%, 0.0575%, 0.0600%, 0.0625%, 0.0650%, 0.0675%, 0.0700%, 0.0725%, 0.0750%, 0.0775%, 0.0800%, 0.0825%, 0.0850%, 0.0875%, 0.0900%, 0.0925%, 0.0950%, 0.0975%, 0.1000%, 0.1250%, 0.1500%, 0.1750%, 0.2000%, 0.2250%, 0.2500%, 0.2750%, 0.3000%, 0.3250%, 0.3500%, 0.3750%, 0.4000%, 0.4250%, 0.4500%, 0.4750%, 0.5000%, 0.5250%, 0.550%, 0.5750%, 0.6000%, 0.6250%, 0.6500%, 0.6750%, 0.7000%, 0.7250%, 0.7500%, 0.7750%, 0.8000%, 0.8250%, 0.8500%, 0.8750%, 0.9000%, 0.9250%, 0.9500%, 0.9750%, 1.0%, 1.1%, 1.2%, 1.3%, 1.4%, 1.5%, 1.6%, 1.7%, 1.8%, 1.9%, 2.0%, 2.1%, 2.2%, 2.3%, 2.4%, 2.5%, 2.6%, 2.7%, 2.8%, 2.9%, 3.0%, 3.1%, 3.2%, 3.3%, 3.4%, 3.5%, 3.6%, 3.7%, 3.8%, 3.9%, 4.0%, 4.1%, 4.2%, 4.3%, 4.4%, 4.5%, 4.6%, 4.7%, 4.8%, 4.9%, 5.0%, 5.1%, 5.2%, 5.3%, 5.4%, 5.5%, 5.6%, 5.7%, 5.8%, 5.9%, 6.0%, 6.1%, 6.2%, 6.3%, 6.4%, 6.5%, 6.6%, 6.7%, 6.8%, 6.9%, 7.0%, 7.1%, 7.2%, 7.3%, 7.4%, 7.5%, 7.6%, 7.7%, 7.8%, 7.9%, 8.0%, 8.1%, 8.2%, 8.3%, 8.4%, 8.5%, 8.6%, 8.7%, 8.8%, 8.9%, 9.0%, 9.1%, 9.2%, 9.3%, 9.4%, 9.5%, 9.6%, 9.7%, 9.8%, 9.9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 26%, 27%, 28%, 29%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 99% or more, or any range or integer derivable therein, of at least one of the polypeptides, nucleic acids, or other ingredients. In non-limiting aspects, the percentage of such ingredients can be calculated by weight or volume of the total weight of the compositions. The concentrations can vary depending on the desired effect of the compositions or on the product into which the compositions are incorporated.

2. Composition Vehicles

The compositions of the present invention can be formulated into all types of vehicles. Non-limiting examples of suitable vehicles include emulsions (e.g., water-in-oil, water-in-oil-in-water, oil-in-water, oil-in-water-in-oil, oil-in-water-in-silicone emulsions), creams, lotions, solutions (both aqueous and hydro-alcoholic), anhydrous bases (such as lip sticks, powders), gels, and ointments or by other method or any combination of the forgoing as would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Variations and other appropriate vehicles will be apparent to the skilled artisan and are appropriate for use in the present invention. In certain aspects, the concentrations and combinations of the ingredients be selected in such a way that the combinations are chemically compatible and do not form complexes which precipitate from the finished product.

It is also contemplated that the polypeptides and polynucleotides of the present invention and additional ingredients identified throughout this specification can be encapsulated for delivery to a target area such as skin. Non-limiting examples of encapsulation techniques include the use of liposomes, vesicles, and/or nanoparticles (e.g., biodegradable and non-biodegradable colloidal particles comprising polymeric materials in which the ingredient is trapped, encapsulated, and/or absorbed-examples include nanospheres, nanocapsules, and liposomes) that can be used as delivery vehicles to deliver such ingredients to skin (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,387,398; 6,203,802; 5,411,744).

Also contemplated are pharmaceutically-acceptable or pharmacologically-acceptable compositions. The phrase “pharmaceutically-acceptable” or “pharmacologically-acceptable” includes compositions that do not produce an allergic or similar untoward reaction when administered to a human Typically, such compositions are prepared either as topical compositions, liquid solutions or suspensions, solid forms suitable for solution in, or suspension in, liquid prior to use can also be prepared. Routes of administration can vary with the location and nature of the condition to be treated, and include, e.g., topical, inhalation, intradermal, transdermal, parenteral, intravenous, intramuscular, intranasal, subcutaneous, percutaneous, intratracheal, intraperitoneal, intratumoral, perfusion, lavage, direct injection, and oral administration and formulation.

3. Products

The compositions of the present invention can be incorporated into products. Non-limiting examples of products include skin care products, cosmetic products, food-based products, pharmaceutical products, etc. By way of example only, non-limiting skin care products include sunscreen products, sunless skin tanning products, hair products, fingernail products, moisturizing creams, moisturizing lotions, skin benefit creams and lotions, softeners, day lotions, gels, ointments, lipsticks, or other known skin care products or applications. Additionally, the cosmetic products can be formulated as leave-on or rinse-off products.

4. Additional Ingredients

Compositions of the present invention can optionally include additional ingredients. Non-limiting examples of additional ingredients include pharmaceutical ingredients and cosmetic ingredients (both active and non-active).

a. Pharmaceutical Ingredients

Pharmaceutical ingredients are also contemplated as being useful with the compositions of the present invention. Non-limiting examples of pharmaceutical ingredients include analgesics, anesthetics, antihistamines, anti-inflammatory agents including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antimicrobials, anti-cancer actives, scabicides, pediculicides, antineoplastics, antiperspirants, antipruritics, antipsoriatic agents, antiseborrheic agents, biologically active proteins and peptides, burn treatment agents, cauterizing agents, depigmenting agents, depilatories, diaper rash treatment agents, enzymes, hair growth stimulants, hair growth retardants including DFMO and its salts and analogs, hemostatics, kerotolytics, canker sore treatment agents, cold sore treatment agents, dental and periodontal treatment agents, photosensitizing actives, skin protectant/barrier agents, steroids including hormones and corticosteroids, sunburn treatment agents, sunscreens, transdermal actives, nasal actives, vaginal actives, wart treatment agents, wound treatment agents, wound healing agents, etc.

Other pharmaceutical agents contemplated for inclusion in the compositions of the present invention include agents that can be applied in the treatment of ichthyosis vulgaris and atopic dermatitis. Examples include alpha hydroxy acids such as lactic and glycolic acid, retinoids, other vitamin A derivatives, calcineurin inhibitors, cyclosporine, interferon gamma-lb, or a topical or oral corticosteroid.

b. Cosmetic Ingredients

The CTFA International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook (2004) describes a wide variety of non-limiting cosmetic ingredients that can be used in the context of the present invention. Examples of these ingredient classes include: fragrances (artificial and natural), dyes and color ingredients (e.g., Blue 1, Blue 1 Lake, Red 40, titanium dioxide, D&C blue no. 4, D&C green no. 5, D&C orange no. 4, D&C red no. 17, D&C red no. 33, D&C violet no. 2, D&C yellow no. 10, and D&C yellow no. 11), adsorbents, emulsifiers, stabilizers, lubricants, solvents, moisturizers (including, e.g., emollients, humectants, film formers, occlusive agents, and agents that affect the natural moisturization mechanisms of the skin), exfoliating agents, water-repellants, UV absorbers (physical and chemical absorbers such as paraaminobenzoic acid (“PABA”) and corresponding PABA derivatives, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, etc.), essential oils, vitamins (e.g., A, B, C, D, E, and K), trace metals (e.g., zinc, calcium and selenium), anti-irritants (e.g., steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories), botanical extracts (e.g., aloe vera, chamomile, cucumber extract, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, and rosemary), anti-microbial agents, antioxidants (e.g., BHT and tocopherol), chelating agents (e.g., disodium EDTA and tetrasodium EDTA), preservatives (e.g., methylparaben and propylparaben), pH adjusters (e.g., sodium hydroxide and citric acid), absorbents (e.g., aluminum starch octenylsuccinate, kaolin, corn starch, oat starch, cyclodextrin, talc, and zeolite), skin bleaching and lightening agents (e.g., hydroquinone and niacinamide lactate), humectants (e.g., glycerin, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, pentylene glycol, sorbitol, urea, and manitol), exfoliants (e.g., alpha-hydroxyacids, and beta-hydroxyacids such as lactic acid, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid; and salts thereof) waterproofing agents (e.g., magnesium/aluminum hydroxide stearate), skin conditioning agents (e.g., aloe extracts, allantoin, bisabolol, ceramides, dimethicone, hyaluronic acid, and dipotassium glycyrrhizate), thickening agents (e.g., substances which that can increase the viscosity of a composition such as carboxylic acid polymers, crosslinked polyacrylate polymers, polyacrylamide polymers, polysaccharides, and gums), and silicone containing compounds (e.g., silicone oils and polyorganosiloxanes).

E. DISEASES TO BE TREATED OR PREVENTED

The diseases or disorders contemplated for treatment or prevention using the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention include any disease or disorder where increase in intracellular filaggrin is known or suspected to be of benefit. Non-limiting examples of such diseases include diseases or disorders of the skin. The disease or disorder may be dry skin, peeling skin, scaling skin, inflamed skin, cracked skin, chapped skin, acne, calluses, corns, canker sores, carbuncles, cellulitis, cold sores, dandruff, dermatitis, eczema, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, cradle cap, nummular dermatitis, stasis dermatitis, perioral dermatitis, dermatitis herpetiformis, epidermolysis bullosa, erythrasma, erysipelas, folliculitis, herpes infection, impetigo, ichthyosis, hyperhidrosis, jock itch, keloid, keratoacanthoma, actinic keratosis, keratosis pilaris, seborrheic keratosis, hyperkeratosis, lichen planus, pemphigus, photosensitivity, pityriasis rosea, psoriasis, rosacea, scabies, scleroderma, sebacious cyst, shingles, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and warts.

F. KITS

Kits are also contemplated as being used in certain aspects of the present invention. For instance, a polypeptide or nucleic acid of the present invention can be included in a kit. A kit can include a sealed container. Non-limiting examples of containers include a bottle, a metal tube, a laminate tube, a plastic tube, a dispenser, a pressurized container, a barrier container, a package, a compartment, a lipstick container, a compact container, cosmetic pans that can hold cosmetic compositions, or other types of containers such as injection or blow-molded plastic containers into which the dispersions or compositions or desired bottles, dispensers, or packages are retained. Other examples of containers include glass or plastic vials or bottles. The kit and/or container can include indicia on its surface. The indicia, for example, can be a word, a phrase, an abbreviation, a picture, or a symbol.

The containers can dispense a pre-determined amount of a composition of the present invention. In other embodiments, the container can be squeezed (e.g., metal, laminate, or plastic tube) to dispense a desired amount of the composition. The composition can be dispensed as a spray, an aerosol, a liquid, a fluid, or a semi-solid. The containers can have spray, pump, or squeeze mechanisms. A kit can also include instructions for using the kit and/or compositions. Instructions can include an explanation of how to apply, administer, use, and maintain the compositions.

G. COMBINATION TREATMENTS

In order to increase the effectiveness of polypeptide of the present invention, or expression construct coding therefor, it may be desirable to combine these compositions with other agents effective in the treatment or prevention of a disease or disorder where a filaggrin polypeptide may be of benefit. For example, the chimeric polypeptides of the present invention can be administered in conjunction with other treatment of a skin disease such as atopic dermatitis or ichthyosis vulgaris. Non-limiting examples of these diseases or conditions are as set forth above.

The therapy may precede or follow the other agent treatment by intervals ranging from minutes to weeks. The therapies may be administered concurrently. In embodiments where the second therapy is applied separately, one would generally ensure that a significant period of time did not expire between the time of each delivery, such that the two therapies would still be able to exert an advantageously combined effect on the cell. In such instances, it is contemplated that one may administer both therapies within about 12-24 h of each other and, more preferably, within about 6-12 h of each other. In some situations, it may be desirable to extend the time period for treatment significantly, however, where several d (2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7) to several wk (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8) lapse between the respective administrations.

Various combinations may be employed, the polypeptide or polynucleotide of the present invention is “A” and the secondary agent is “B”:

A/B/A B/A/B B/B/A A/A/B A/B/B B/A/A A/B/B/B B/A/B/B B/B/B/A B/B/A/B A/A/B/B A/B/A/B A/B/B/A B/B/A/A B/A/B/A B/A/A/B A/A/A/B B/A/A/A A/B/A/A A/A/B/A

Administration of therapeutic agents and compositions of the present invention to a subject will follow general protocols for the administration of therapeutic agents, taking into account the toxicity, if any. It is expected that the treatment cycles would be repeated as necessary. It also is contemplated that various standard therapies may be applied in combination with the polypeptides and polynucleotides of the present invention. Non-limiting examples include the pharmaceutical agents set forth above. Other examples include procedures such as dermabrasion, laser therapy, laser resurfacing, ultraviolet treatment, and skin grafting.

H. EXAMPLES

The following examples are included to demonstrate preferred embodiments of the invention. It should be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the techniques disclosed in the examples which follow represent techniques discovered by the inventor to function well in the practice of the invention, and thus can be considered to constitute preferred modes for its practice. However, those of skill in the art should, in light of the present disclosure, appreciate that many changes can be made in the specific embodiments which are disclosed and still obtain a like or similar result without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Example 1 Treatment of Mouse Skin with Recombinant Filaggrin

The FLG protein was isolated, and several FLG peptides, consisting of partial or complete repeat regions, were created. These proteins were modified to contain a cell importation signal (made up of arginine methionine repeats—the “RMR” tag) that has been successfully employed to drive protein internalization by cells. The proteins that were synthesized include (1) human FLG with RMR tag; (2) mouse FLG with RMR tag; and (3) mouse FLG without RMR tag.

Multiple immunohistochemistry (IHC) experiments were performed to determine whether FLG with the RMR tag can be taken up by HEK 293 cells, a cell line derived from embryonic kidney cells. In these experiments, mouse FLG protein both with and without RMR importation signal were applied to HEK 293 cells at varying concentrations over varying time points. The FLG proteins were then stained with a FITC fluorescence stain and photographed under an Olympus IX81 confocal microscope. Preliminary staining experiments showed that FLG with the RMR tag are internalized into HEK 293 cells to a greater extent than FLG without the tag. In particular, MuFLG with RMR was shown to enter the cell at a higher rate than MuFLG without RMR after 4.5 hours observed and documented by imaging using an Olympus IX81 camera at 40×. While FLG without RMR are still taken up by the cells to a certain extent, possibly due to passive importation, higher fluorescence was found with the RMR tag than without it Immunohistochemical staining showed that while FLG plus RMR is internalized, it remains in the cytoplasm. HEK 293 cells stained with FITC (green for FLG) and DAPI (blue for nucleus) staining showed that FLG+RMR enters the cell but is absent in the nucleus after 1 hour, thus documenting the robust internalization of FLG-RMR and its localization in the cytoplasm. It is worth noting that active FLG protein (RMR⁻) is expressed in the cytoplasm yet absence from the nucleus in vivo.

Further studies are being conducted to examine the proteins on mouse and human keratinocyte cell lines. Cell lines being prepared include reconstructed human epidermis (RHE), a human derived keratinocyte polymer and mouse CL-177 keratinocytes. By techniques such as protein immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry, we will determine the amount and localization of FLG. To certify that FLG importation and expression can be duplicated in vivo testing of these proteins on mice is necessary.

To date, the FLG-RMR protein, mixed with a carrier solution (in this case, ABSORBASE cream), were tested on a flaky tail (ft) mouse model, a mouse model lacking the normal high molecular profilaggrin and cleaved filaggrin proteins resulting in dry, flaky skin. Initial experiments tested the efficiency of delivery and importation of the produced FLG-RMR peptides on flaky tail and normal C57B1 mice. The hair was shaved from the side of each mouse and FLG-RMR protein with carrier cream was applied. Twenty four hours after application of protein-carrier cream mixture, the treated skin area was biopsied and analyzed for changes in dermal layer phenotype and presence of FLG-RMR protein. Frozen sections from treated skin indicate that clear differences exist between the treated and untreated skin with the FLG-RMR protein as compared to the control.

Future experiments will include testing other carrier solutions and various concentrations of FLG-RMR at multiple time points to determine optimal conditions, and an experimental trial will be conducted. In this trial, flaky tail mice will be divided into four cohorts: (1) carrier with FLG protein and RMR tag; (2) carrier with FLG protein without RMR tag; (3) carrier only; (4) carrier with denatured protein and RMR tag. There will be five mice per cohort and the respective treatments will be applied on the tail, a shaved area of skin, and an unshaved area of skin after the mice have reached P60-P90. Various time points after the treatments have been applied, mice will be euthanized and dermal punch biopsies will be taken from each mouse. Immunoblotting experiments will be conducted to determine the amount of protein intake. By showing that FLG protein can be delivered via a carrier vehicle in a mouse model, clinical trials in humans are contemplated.

All of the methods disclosed and claimed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the methods of this invention have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the methods described herein without departing from the concept, spirit and scope of the invention. More specifically, it will be apparent that certain agents which are both chemically and physiologically related may be substituted for the agents described herein while the same or similar results would be achieved. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

REFERENCES

The following references, to the extent that they provide exemplary procedural or other details supplementary to those set forth herein, are specifically incorporated herein by reference.

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1. A recombinant polypeptide comprising a human filaggrin sequence and a cell importation sequence positioned on the N-terminus side or the C-terminus side of the filaggrin sequence.
 2. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 1, further comprising a linker region positioned between the human filaggrin sequence and the cell importation sequence.
 3. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the cell importation sequence comprises an RMR tag.
 4. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 3, wherein the RMR tag comprises SEQ ID NO:23.
 5. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 3, wherein the RMR tag consists of SEQ ID NO:23.
 6. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 3, wherein the cell importation sequence is positioned on the C-terminus side of the filaggrin sequence.
 7. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 1, comprised in a topical formulation.
 8. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 7, wherein the topical formulation is an emulsion, a cream, a lotion, a gel, or an ointment.
 9. A recombinant polypeptide comprising a human filaggrin sequence and an RMR sequence motif positioned on the N terminus side or the C-terminus side of the filaggrin sequence.
 10. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 9, wherein the motif comprises repeating units of RMR.
 11. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 10, wherein the RMR sequence motif comprises SEQ ID NO:23.
 12. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 11, wherein the RMR sequence motif consists of SEQ ID NO:23.
 13. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 10, wherein the RMR sequence motif is positioned on the C-terminus side of the filaggrin sequence.
 14. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 9, further comprising a linker region positioned between the human filaggrin sequence and the RMR sequence motif.
 15. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 9, comprised in a topical formulation.
 16. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 15, wherein the topical formulation is an emulsion, a cream, a lotion, a gel, or an ointment.
 17. A recombinant chimeric nucleic acid molecule comprising a human filaggrin coding region under the control of a eukaryotic or prokaryotic promoter.
 18. The recombinant nucleic acid molecule of claim 17, wherein the promoter is a eukaryotic promoter.
 19. The recombinant nucleic acid molecule of claim 17, wherein the promoter is a prokaryotic promoter.
 20. The recombinant nucleic acid molecule of claim 17, further defined as an expression vector.
 21. The recombinant nucleic acid molecule of claim 20, wherein the expression vector is a prokaryotic expression vector.
 22. The recombinant nucleic acid molecule of claim 20, wherein the expression vector is a eukaryotic expression vector.
 23. The recombinant nucleic acid molecule of claim 17, wherein the molecule further comprises a region encoding a cell importation sequence.
 24. The recombinant chimeric nucleic acid molecule of claim 17, wherein the molecule further comprises a region encoding an RMR tag.
 25. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 24, wherein the RMR tag comprises SEQ ID NO:23.
 26. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 26, wherein the RMR tag consists of SEQ ID NO:23.
 27. The recombinant nucleic acid molecule of claim 17, further comprising a region encoding a linker region positioned between the human filaggrin sequence and the cell importation sequence.
 28. The recombinant chimeric nucleic acid molecule of claim 17, positioned in a host cell that expresses human filaggrin.
 29. The recombinant chimeric nucleic acid molecule of claim 28, wherein the host cell is a prokaryote.
 30. The recombinant chimeric nucleic acid molecule of claim 29, wherein the host cell is a bacteria.
 31. The recombinant chimeric nucleic acid molecule of claim 28, wherein the host cell is a eukaryote. . 